The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists’ Gender Mainstreaming Committee in conjunction with the Women’s Trust recently held a media orientation meeting for its members on the "Women Can do it " campaign.
The campaign run by the Women’s Trust in the run up to the elections in 2008 is aimed at increasing women’s participation and carving a niche for themselves in the political arena. It encourages all women who wish to play a part in politics to take this chance and for all women to support each other regardless of party politics and patronage.
Coming at a time when the political arena is rife with tension and back biting in the run up to the election, threatening women’s participation, the campaign seeks to open up the playing field by making use of women’s superior numbers in the population.
Speaking at the media orientation workshop, the Women’s Trust’s Executive Director, Luta Shaba denounced barriers that prevented women from taking their rightful position in politics including violence in recent elections and society’s attitude to women in power. “Women in leadership tend to neglect their families and the families pay the price. However, women in power usually have a strong family background and the family sphere is usually their first training ground in leadership,” she said.
Participants stressed media’s crucial role in bringing women’s voices to the forefront and putting women’s participation on the agenda not only in politics but in all areas of decision making.
Contact: IFJ Gender council coordinator for SADC Region: Lifaqane Nare [email protected]